As ever, a lot of hard work had gone in to providing everyone with the best of facilities as this weekend incorporated the second Horse Sport Ireland trial for European representation and for this, and all the main classes, Paul Duffy was the appointed course designer.

The Under-10 Pony Premier attracted 25 starters, with six of these combinations completing on a zero score after three rounds. Full league points were awarded to Ulster region athlete Alex Finney as she won the class on Magneto Cobra in a time of 34.57 seconds, ahead of Max Foley and Tiger Lilly who finished in 35.39. Third place went to Isobel Hughes Kennedy and Flash Dance, who were only marginally slower in 35.73. Yiayan Evans earned valuable points with Jazz Beat in fourth place in 36.33.

Only 15 combinations started in the 128cms division but nonetheless the class produced exceptional jumping, with Ruari Clarke providing the Ulster region with yet another win by taking the class on Lenamore Mini Metro. This pair was the only combination to remain on a zero score and finished in 39.38. Second place went to Aisling McGuinness and Shy Strike Again, who picked up four faults in the jump-off in 38.50, just ahead of Charlotte Houston and Little Jack Spratt, who also notched up a tally of four faults in 38.79.

The 138cms class was a hotly-contested affair, with Jason Foley taking his second win of the series. The newly-formed partnership with Bear Me In Mind were unbeatable after they stopped the clock in 38.58 to relegate the long-time leader Harry Allen and Lough Gill 39.27 to second place. Third place went to Robbie Clancy and Drumaclan Flight, also clear in 40.34. Foley, Allen and Clancy have quite a battle in front of them as this league unfolds and with Allen on international duty with the children on horses squad, this could leave the door open a little.

There were 24 starters in the 148cms Premier class, where only Olivia Roulston was the only rider to finish on a zero score. Roulston and the former Kevin Gallagher mount Ballygawleys Little Ferro have had a great start to their season, taking third in the CSIP Grand Prix in Fontainebleau in April and now winning full league points in the Premier series, with a time of 37.10.

Local rider James Kenny and Bertie Brown continued their good form to take second place (0/0/15 in 50.94), ahead of Grace McHugh and The Whispering Bush (0/0/18 in 49.68), the latter having won the TRI RDS qualifier the week before.

The Allianz Starfinder of the Future competition for six- and seven-year-old ponies was the last class in Arena 1 and was also the second qualifier for the CSIYP section to be held at the European Championships for Ponies at Millstreet in July.

Some 42 combinations sought qualification to the two prestigious finals to be staged during the summer. Once again, the six year olds provided the bulk of the first round clears with 13 going into the jump-off alongside eight seven-year-olds.

Kate Derwin rode an unbeatable round on Carol Gee’s six-year-old Springhill Annora in 31.38 and put it up to her peers. Abigail McGeoghan Santry and the seven-year-old Garryndruig Churchill finished in second on a zero score in 31.89, with Conan Wright and Judy Murphy’s coloured six-year-old Javas Lady Bug taking third in 32.06.

With an exciting bunch of young ponies and athletes coming through the ranks, the Allianz Starfinder final at the National Pony and Young Rider Championships in Ennis and the CSIYP competitions at Millstreet will provide great entertainment for spectators.

The next Pony Premier and Starfinder action will be held at Cavan Equestrian on June 14th.